PAUL BONG | 'Leaves of scrub-tree' | Mezzotint printThese are the first mezzotint prints I have done. I work from my own studio on the main street of Innisfail and now do all my printing myself. Mezzotints are different to etchings and they take a very long time to make the image on the surface of the metal plate. I bought a tool and I use that to rock back and forth and scrape and burnish the copper or zine plate to get the different tones, the light and dark areas. These are my representations of

cabbage palm

The set was printed in an edition of 200 and is signed by each artist

"Biyudh is a mangrove pod

"This image recognises the importance of the Dhangal – Dugong – to our Torres Strait Islander culture and the need to preserve it for future generations

Paper size: 390mm x 265mm

religious impact on culture

Michael Anning is now recognised as the foremost Indigenous artist in Queensland to rejuvenate the unique tradition of making rainforest shields and swords

while warriors wore smaller ones out of respect for the Zogo Le and for practicalities in fighting

In her 2003 text

When old May died the other Bentinck artists asked me to come and join their group and paint at the Art Centre

I studied jewellery and object design

saltpans and marine life found around her island home